Traffic rulesHungary

Driving licences are issued through the Hungarian transport-administration system, with applications and document services handled mainly by government windows (kormányablak) and document offices.

The KAV Transport Aptitude and Examination Centre conducts or organises the official theory and practical driving examinations.

National rules are established through Hungarian legislation and administered by the competent transport, interior and government-office authorities.

Yes. A valid Hungarian licence is recognised throughout the country, subject to its categories, restrictions and current legal status.

Yes. A valid Hungarian EU-format licence is generally recognised throughout the EU and European Economic Area.

No. EU rules generally permit only one valid EU or EEA driving licence at a time.

Yes. A valid card-format Hungarian driving licence can generally be used as an official identity document within Hungary.

A Hungarian driver whose entitlement is recorded electronically can generally be checked through the domestic register. A physical licence should still be carried when driving abroad.

The DÁP mobile application supports digital identity verification and an expanding range of official services, including roadside identity checks.

Yes. Training and test requirements are national, but tuition, lesson prices, vehicle charges and optional services vary between schools.

The minimum age for category B is 17 years.

Training may normally begin from age 16 years and 6 months.

The candidate may normally take the category B theory examination from age 16 years and 9 months.

No. The minimum category B age must be reached before the traffic-driving examination.

Yes. The candidate must prove completion of the required basic school education before the relevant official examination stage.

The applicant needs valid identification and the personal and residence information required by the driving school and examination centre.

The applicant must satisfy the Hungarian or EU normal-residence conditions applicable to driving-licence issue.

Yes. A foreign resident can apply when the residence, identity, age, medical, training and examination requirements are met.

No. A current driving prohibition, withdrawal or incompatible foreign licence status must be resolved.

Yes. A first category B applicant must be certified as medically fit in health group 1.

Yes. A first licence is normally issued only after the required road first-aid examination has been passed or an exemption has been documented.

No. All public-road learning must take place under the authorised training rules.

An ordinary private category B driver belongs to health group 1.

It is commonly conducted by the applicant’s general practitioner or another doctor authorised by the medical-fitness regulation.

The examination considers vision, hearing, movement, neurological and cardiovascular health, diabetes, medication, substance dependence and other conditions relevant to driving.

Yes. A restriction code is recorded when corrective lenses must be used.

Yes. Medical and technical codes can require an automatic transmission, hand controls or other adaptations.

No. The doctor may find the person fit, fit with restrictions, fit for a shorter period or unfit.

Normally every 10 years.

Normally every five years.

Normally every three years.

Normally every two years.

No. The examination is compulsory for most candidates, but attendance at a preparation course is not itself a universal legal requirement.

People holding specified medical, nursing, paramedic or equivalent qualifications can be exempt when they provide acceptable evidence.

The category B curriculum contains at least 28 theory lessons in the classroom route.

Yes. Approved e-learning can replace the fixed classroom schedule while still covering the prescribed curriculum.

They include traffic rules, driving theory and vehicle construction and operating knowledge.

At least 29 practical lessons must be completed before the test.

A practical training lesson normally lasts 50 minutes.

The candidate must complete at least 580 kilometres.

The curriculum includes at least nine lessons of basic vehicle-control training.

At least 14 hours of main-stage training must be completed in urban traffic.

At least four hours must be completed on roads outside built-up areas.

At least two hours must be completed at night.

Yes. The minimum hours and distance do not guarantee readiness, and additional lessons may be necessary.

Yes. Completed training can be transferred using the official training certificate and records.

KAV conducts the official computer-based examination at an approved examination location.

The test contains 55 multiple-choice questions.

The candidate has 55 minutes.

The maximum score is 75 points.

At least 65 points are required.

Safety-critical questions can carry three points, while ordinary questions carry one point.

The test covers traffic law, driving theory and vehicle construction and operating knowledge.

Yes. The candidate must have successfully completed and documented the required theory training.

Foreign-language and interpreter arrangements are available only under the official examination rules and must be arranged in advance.

The candidate can take another examination after booking and paying the applicable fee.

Yes. The first examination must normally be attempted within nine months after the course begins.

Yes. A successful theory examination must normally be obtained within 12 months after the course begins, or the theory course must be repeated.

An authorised KAV driving examiner conducts it in an approved training vehicle.

The category B examination lasts 60 minutes.

The candidate must drive for 50 minutes.

The candidate performs the legally required vehicle checks and prepares the seat, mirrors and safety belt.

The examiner assesses vehicle control, observation, road position, speed choice, priority, signs, interaction and safe independent driving.

The candidate must successfully perform two selected manoeuvres during the test.

One task is selected from the parking exercises and one from the turning or reversing-direction exercises.

Yes. A traffic-rule violation, dangerous situation, collision or instructor intervention can cause immediate failure.

Yes. More than ten recorded non-immediate-failure errors results in failure.

Yes. It must have valid registration, compulsory insurance and approval as a category B training vehicle.

It can be issued after all examination, medical, residence and first-aid conditions are recorded and satisfied.

Yes. Automatic document issue is possible when the applicant has made the required declarations and all necessary data are available in the official systems.

The first international-category licence is classified as a novice driving licence for two years.

Yes. The passenger prohibition applies to novice motorcycle and B1 entitlements, not to an ordinary category B car.

No. A category B novice driver may not tow a trailer during the two-year novice period.

Yes. A driving disqualification or withdrawal during the novice period can extend it until two years after the entitlement is restored.

The formal extension mechanism can apply once. A further qualifying event during the extended period can lead to withdrawal and mandatory retraining.

The licence entitlement may not be recognised abroad before age 18. The destination country’s minimum-age and recognition rules must be checked.

Hungary applies zero alcohol to all drivers, not only novices.

The ordinary 18-point threshold applies, but licence withdrawal during the novice period also affects the novice status.

It covers mopeds and light quadricycles within the legal speed, engine and power limits.

The minimum age is 14.

It covers light motorcycles up to 125 cm³, 11 kW and the prescribed power-to-weight limit.

It covers motorcycles up to 35 kW with the prescribed power-to-weight and derivation restrictions.

It covers unrestricted motorcycles, subject to direct-access or staged-access age and experience rules.

It covers specified motor quadricycles.

It covers motor vehicles up to 3,500 kg with no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver.

A trailer up to 750 kg, or a heavier trailer where the statutory category B combination rules are satisfied.

It extends category B to a vehicle-and-trailer combination above 3,500 kg but not exceeding 4,250 kg.

It covers a category B towing vehicle with a trailer or semi-trailer within the BE weight limits.

C1 covers medium goods vehicles above 3,500 kg and up to 7,500 kg; C covers heavier goods vehicles.

D1 covers smaller buses within its passenger and length limits; D covers larger buses.

Not always. Many professional goods and passenger drivers also need the appropriate driver qualification card or professional competence.

GKI is the professional driver qualification used for many lorry and bus drivers under the EU professional-competence framework.

Yes for drivers entering covered professional activity without an exemption or acquired right.

Yes. Professional qualification must be renewed through periodic training on the applicable cycle.

It is normally valid for five years.

C, D and many professional-driving activities use health group 2.

Normally every five years.

Normally every two years.

Yes. A PÁV aptitude examination can be required for specified professional, emergency or safety-sensitive driving activities.

No. Taxi driving also involves professional, operator, vehicle, local and medical requirements.

Normally up to 10 years, subject to the medical assessment and document-validity rules.

Normally up to five years.

Normally up to three years.

Normally up to two years.

Yes. A medical condition can require earlier review.

The driver completes the required medical examination and uses the available government-window or electronic procedure.

Automatic document issue or replacement may be available when the required declarations, photograph, signature and medical data are present.

The driver reports the document and requests a replacement through a government window or the available electronic service.

Not necessarily. A replacement normally preserves the existing medical and category expiry dates.

No. The electronic driver record controls whether the person may legally drive.

Yes. A valid EU or EEA licence is generally recognised while it remains valid.

No. Exchange is generally optional, although renewal, expiry, loss or certain residence situations can make Hungarian issue necessary.

Yes, when it is valid and complies with an applicable international convention or is accompanied by the required translation or International Driving Permit.

A qualifying foreign licence can generally be used for up to one year after residence in Hungary begins.

The licence must be naturalised or exchanged where possible, or the person must complete the Hungarian licensing process.

No. The requirement depends on the issuing country, international agreement, licence format and category.

The central government-window system handles the procedure, with certain specialised decisions managed by the central document office.

Yes, in most exchanges or naturalisations the foreign licence is surrendered or otherwise dealt with under the official procedure.

Yes. A holder of a valid Hungarian licence can request the applicable International Driving Permit.

It is valid for no longer than the underlying Hungarian entitlement and generally for a maximum of three years.

Final traffic offences can add statutory traffic-history points to the national driver record.

The driver is notified after reaching 13 points.

The driving entitlement is automatically withdrawn when the total reaches 18 points.

They expire three years after being imposed.

Yes. Eligible drivers can complete voluntary retraining to reduce the active total, subject to the statutory limits and frequency rules.

The driver normally loses the entitlement for six months and must complete the required retraining before restoration.

No. Payment does not immediately remove valid traffic-history points.

Hungary applies zero tolerance for alcohol while driving.

Yes. Administrative or criminal consequences depend on the measured level and circumstances, but no alcohol is permitted.

Yes. Refusal or obstruction can lead to serious administrative and criminal consequences.

This FAQ was prepared from current Hungarian legislation, KAV curriculum and examination requirements, government-office guidance, police information and Hungarian Red Cross material.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with KAV, a government window, the police, the Hungarian Red Cross, an examination centre or a driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent authority always take precedence.